February 24, 2003

Mitsui Chemicals Names DuPont™ Vespel® Business as Exclusive U.S., European Distributor of AURUM® Thermoplastic Polyimide Resin

PURCHASE, N.Y., Feb. 24, 2003 — Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. announced today that DuPont™ Vespel® Parts and Shapes is the exclusive distributor for AURUM® thermoplastic polyimide resin in the United States and Europe. The DuPont Vespel® business will provide distribution and technical support for injection moldable thermoplastic polyimide products made from AURUM® resins in those regions.
“This agreement is designed to help simplify supply and technical support for customers who use Vespel® injection-moldable grades and AURUM® resin,” said Mark Schmeckpeper, global product manager for the Vespel® Parts and Shapes business. “Traditional Vespel® parts and shapes are cold-formed and sintered; injection-moldable grades open the door to manufacture parts with greater geometric complexity at lower overall manufacturing costs.”
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. will manufacture and supply the material. The DuPont Vespel® business will provide the distribution, sales, marketing and technical support for AURUM® customers. The transition is expected to be in place by April.
Since 2000, DuPont has incorporated AURUM® resin into its line of injection-molded Vespel® TP parts and shapes. The Vespel® TP family also includes parts and shapes injection molded from a variety of high-performance materials for use in many industries, including aerospace, automotive and semiconductor.
Patented in 1991, AURUM® resin is an injection-moldable polyimide that has been specified in many diverse applications ranging from small bushings and washers to complex semiconductor chip transport trays and large plasma chamber liners.
“From our new relationship, our customers will receive improved sales and technical support for AURUM® resin in the United States and Europe,” said Takahiro Ouchi, director of AURUM® business, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., one of the leading companies in the chemical industry, is committed to contributing extensively to society by providing high quality products and services to customers through innovation and creation of materials that maintain harmony with the global environment.
DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by solving problems and creating solutions that make people’s lives better, safer and easier. Operating in more than 70 countries, the company offers a wide range of products and services to markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company’s strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects,” “indicates,” and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by DuPont, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those stated. These factors include, but are not limited to changes in the laws, regulations, policies and economic conditions, including inflation, interest and foreign currency exchange rates, of countries in which the company does business; competitive pressures; successful integration of structural changes, including restructuring plans, acquisitions, divestitures and alliances; cost of raw materials, research and development of new products, including regulatory approval and market acceptance; and seasonality of sales of agricultural products.

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2/24/03

DuPont™ and Vespel® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
AURUM® is a registered trademark of Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
Reader inquiries to: (800) 972-7252 or visit us on the Web at www.dupont.com/vespel.